Russia on Monday expressed “full support” for Venezuela as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by US forces deployed in the Caribbean.

The pledge from Moscow, itself embroiled in the war in Ukraine, came on the eve of a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting Tuesday to discuss the mounting crisis between Caracas and Washington.

In a phone call, the foreign ministers of the allied nations blasted the US actions, which have included strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats and more recently the seizure of two oil tankers.

A third ship was being pursued, a US official told AFP on Sunday.

“The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping,” the Russian foreign ministry said of the call between Sergei Lavrov and Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil.

“The Russian side reaffirmed its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context,” it added in a statement.

US forces have since September launched strikes on boats that Washington claims, without providing evidence, were trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

More than 100 people have been killed — some of them fishermen, according to their families and governments.

US President Donald Trump on December 16 also announced a blockade of “sanctioned oil vessels” sailing to and from Venezuela.

Trump claims Caracas under President Nicolas Maduro is using oil money to finance “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.”

He has also accused Venezuela of taking “all of our oil” — in an apparent reference to the country’s nationalization of the petroleum sector, and said: “we want it back.”

Caracas, in turn, fears Washington is seeking regime change, and has accused Washington of “international piracy.”

Moscow’s statement said Lavrov and Gil agreed in their call to “coordinate their actions on the international stage, particularly at the UN, in order to ensure respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.”

Russia and China, another Venezuela ally, backed Caracas’s request for a UNSC meeting to discuss what it called “the ongoing US aggression.”

– Russia’s ‘hands full’ –

On Telegram, Venezuela’s Gil said he and Lavrov had discussed “the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being perpetrated in the Caribbean: attacks on vessels, extrajudicial executions, and illicit acts of piracy carried out by the United States government.”

Gil said Lavrov had affirmed Moscow’s “full support in the face of hostilities against our country.”

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio brushed aside Moscow’s stated support for Caracas.

Washington, he said, was “not concerned about an escalation with Russia with regards to Venezuela” as “they have their hands full in Ukraine.”

US-Russia relations have soured in recent weeks as Trump has voiced frustration with Moscow over the lack of a resolution to the Ukraine war.

Gil on Monday also read a letter on state TV, signed by Maduro and addressed to UN member nations, warning the US blockade “will affect the supply of oil and energy” globally.

The post Russia pledges ‘full support’ for Venezuela against US ‘hostilities’ appeared first on Vanguard News.

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At least 28 travellers were abducted by gunmen on Sunday night in Zak community, Bashar District, in Wase local government area of Plateau State.

A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, confirmed the abduction to newsmen in a telephone interview, saying that the victims included men, women, and children.

Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the incident, explaining that the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown.

According to the youth leader, the victims were abducted while on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event scheduled to hold on Sunday.

Sambo explained that two princes and a religious leader leading the journey were among the victims.

He said, “The incident happened around 8pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. When the gunmen ambushed the victims’ vehicle at the outskirt of the community, they took away all the travellers, including the children, and abandoned the vehicle.

“It was on Monday morning that people travelling on the road saw the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, abandoned on the road. So, in the course of investigation, the community discovered it was the vehicle that was carrying the travellers that was abandoned,” Sambo explained.

The youth leader said all efforts to locate the the victims were unsuccessful, adding that security forces had been informed about the situation.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, when contacted, said they were investigating the report of the incident.

LEADERSHIP reports that kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling have been rampant in Wase LGA generally, and residents have called on security agencies to flush out criminal elements terrorising the area.

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Kidnapped Nigerian Catholic school pupils

Some 130 Nigerian Catholic school pupils were handed over to state authorities Monday, a day after the government said it had secured their release a month after one of the country’s worst mass abductions.

Kidnappings for ransom are a common way for armed groups to make quick cash in the conflict-hit west African nation of some 230 million, but a spate of attacks in November put an uncomfortable international spotlight on Nigeria’s grim security situation.

Six vans of children were escorted by security forces in armoured vehicles to the Niger State Government House, an AFP reporter in the state capital Minna saw Monday.

Authorities said the children, along with seven teachers and support staff, were the last batch of those taken by gunmen in the late November mass abduction at the St. Mary’s co-educational boarding school in north-central Nigeria.

“Thank God for the mercy he has shown us, because if you look at these children and imagine the torment they went through, it is unbearable,” Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said at the reception ceremony.

The children were between four and 10 years old, one of the teachers told AFP at the scene.

Scores of children, including young boys sporting brightly-coloured football jerseys and others wearing traditional Nigerian clothes, posed for photos at the state government office where they were handed over by security forces.

The attack on St. Mary’s — reminiscent of the infamous 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok — was part of a series of mass abductions that rocked the west African country last month.

Nigeria suffers from multiple interlinked security concerns, from jihadists in the northeast to armed “bandit” gangs in the northwest.

It has not been publicly disclosed who abducted the children and teachers from St. Mary’s, or how the government secured their release.

Analysts have said that based on past rescues, it is likely the government paid a ransom, which is technically prohibited by law.

– Questions over security –

The exact number taken from St Mary’s has been unclear throughout the ordeal.

Initially, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 students and staff were unaccounted for after the attack in the rural hamlet of Papiri.

Around 50 of them escaped immediately afterwards, and on December 7 the government secured the release of around 100.

That would leave about 165 thought to be still in captivity before Sunday’s announcement that 130 were rescued.

But a UN source told AFP over the weekend that all those taken appeared to have been released — as dozens thought to have been kidnapped had in fact managed to run off during the attack, and make their way home.

“We’ll have to still do final verification,” Daniel Atori, a spokesman for CAN in Niger state, told AFP on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Abuja on Monday, Nigeria’s information minister, Mohammed Idris, was pressed on why so many Nigerian schools remain easy targets for gunmen despite millions of dollars allocated for school security in the past decade.

“We should be optimistic,” he said, adding that “there is so much that government is doing to see that that has abated,” he said.

One of the first mass kidnappings that drew international attention was in 2014, when nearly 300 girls were snatched from their boarding school in the northeastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists.

A decade later, Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis has “consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry” that raised some $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.

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Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and the family of his late deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Monday received more condolence visitors in Government House, Yenagoa.

The visitors included management of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, and management of the Dubai-based Jampur Group.

The NDBDA Managing Director, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, said the demise of Ewhrudjakpo was shocking, unexpected and painful.

Amgbare extolled the qualities of the late deputy governor, stating that he served the state meritoriously.

He said: “We received with shock news of the death of our dependable deputy governor, who worked until his last moments.

“Your Excellency, we are here to mourn with you. May God give you, the Ewhrudjakpo family and the entire state the fortitude to bear the painful loss.”

Also, President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, who led the national executive of the foremost Ijaw socio-cultural body, described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a dependable, proactive, indefatigable ally of the governor.

According to the INC president, “Ewhrudjakpo was a humble, straightforward, devoted partner and a beacon of peace in his service to humanity. Your Excellency, the Ijaw nation came to say, take heart.

“A very deep void has been created by his passing, and it is only God that can give us the fortitude to fill that vacuum. May God grant the governor, the Ewhrudjakpo family and people of the state the grace to overcome the painful loss.”

Chairman of the Bayelsa Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo, in his remarks, said the royal fathers were deeply saddened by the death of the deputy governor and urged Governor Diri to be strong as they understood its effect on him.

King Dakolo, who is the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, said Ewhrudjakpo’s passing has created a big vacuum in the state.

In a similar vein, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Jampur Group, Mohammed Shafiq, described Ewhrudjakpo’s death as painful, saying as development partners, his organisation was in solidarity with the governor and people of the state at this difficult moment.

Responding, Governor Douye Diri said his departed deputy was a key member of the administration as well as a
friend and brother who contributed immensely to the development of the state.

His words: “My deputy and I were brothers and friends. Each passing day, I am reminded of his death. I know you came to tell the government to stop crying, but I also urge you to stop crying because the pain is felt by all of us.”

Governor Diri expressed appreciation to all the visitors for finding time to identify with the state government in its moment of grief.

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Cross River State has taken a bold step toward harmonising agricultural expansion with environmental stewardship as Governor Bassey Edet Otu officially launched the state’s Deforestation-Free Policy, a landmark initiative designed to position the state at the forefront of sustainable, climate-smart commodity production in Nigeria and beyond.

Unveiling the policy recently in Calabar, the Governor, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey described the initiative as “a clear statement of intent by the Cross River State Government on how we will grow, compete and lead in a rapidly changing global agricultural economy where sustainability is no longer optional but essential.”

Governor Otu commended the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, members of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee and development partner, UK Propcom+, for what he termed their “Professionalism, technical rigour and sustained commitment” in shaping a policy framework that balances productivity with conservation. “This policy reflects deep consultation, strong partnerships and a shared vision for the future,” he noted.

The Governor observed that Cross River State, as custodian of over half of Nigeria’s remaining tropical rainforests, carries “both an extraordinary privilege and a profound responsibility.”

According to him, “we must protect these irreplaceable natural assets while ensuring that agriculture continues to deliver jobs, income, food security and inclusive prosperity for our people.”

He explained that tightening global regulations, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), have made sustainability, traceability and transparency prerequisites for access to premium international markets. “Our Deforestation-Free Policy is a direct and strategic response to this new global reality,” Governor Otu said.

“The policy establishes a clear pathway for eliminating deforestation from our priority value chains, while improving productivity, strengthening farmer livelihoods and safeguarding long-term economic growth,” the Governor stressed, adding that environmental protection and economic competitiveness “must now move hand in hand.”

Governor Otu further disclosed that the state has appointed PULA Advisors as lead consultant for EUDR compliance and traceability across the cocoa, coffee and oil palm value chains.

“This engagement will strengthen farm mapping, data systems and supply-chain transparency, ensuring that Cross River commodities meet the highest global standards,” he said.

He emphasised that the policy is people-centred, with smallholder farmers at its core. “Through yield intensification, agroforestry, access to finance and capacity building, we are empowering our farmers to produce more on existing land, earn better incomes and protect our forests,” the Governor said, while calling on MDAs, the private sector and farming communities to align fully with the policy.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, described the launch as “a defining milestone in the transformation of Cross River State’s agricultural sector.”

He said the policy provides “a clear, practical framework for responsible land use, improved productivity and inclusive growth,” adding that its success would depend on “strong institutional collaboration, private sector compliance and genuine community ownership.”

Also speaking at the formal presentation, Propcom’s Country Representative and Political Director, Dr Adiya Ode, represented by the Strategy Director, Dr Olumide Ojo, described the policy as “a powerful model of collaboration that advances both environmental protection and economic opportunity.”

She reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment, through the Propcom+ programme, to deepening investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector with a focus on resilience and climate adaptation.

“Cross River State has long been recognised as one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots,” Dr Ojo said. “We are extremely delighted to be supporting the Cross River State Government to align with global policies on sustainable land use and deforestation-free commodities, harnessing this enormous potential in ways that benefit smallholder farmers and the wider ecosystem,” adding that “By linking forest protection to economic incentives, intensive reforestation and land restoration can thrive, while climate-smart agriculture creates new and alternative livelihoods for farmers across the state.”

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The Jigawa State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has vowed to investigate a suspected trafficking case involving six persons handed over by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, in the state.

The agency’s commander, Mr Abdulkadir Turajo, gave this assurance on Monday in Dutse while receiving the victims.

Turajo said the agency received the six victims from NIS personnel at the Babura Plantation Border Patrol Base in Babura Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that the suspects comprised two males and four females, aged between 32 and 36.

The commander added that the agency would conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether those involved, who are from Ogun, Imo, Lagos and Enugu states, are victims, agents, or accomplices.

He stated that the persons were intercepted on Monday while en route to Europe via Libya and the Niger Republic.

While receiving the intercepted persons, Turajo assured of the agency’s readiness to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure diligent prosecution of all culprits involved.

“We received six human trafficking victims intercepted in the state. We charge you, residents and members of the public, to remain vigilant. Human trafficking syndicates often take advantage of the increased travel and festive excitement to lure unsuspecting victims.Verify offers, especially from unknown persons. The festive season must not become a trafficking season.

“We commend the Nigeria Immigration Service for its sustained partnership and collaboration, which has strengthened the fight against human trafficking in the state,” Turajo said.

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A wave of relief swept over Niger State as the latest group of 130 remaining kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government, were freed from captivity.

The released children, who had been held by their captors for almost a month, were mostly younger pupils compared to the first 100 rescued and officially handed over to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The abductees, who arrived in six buses, were welcomed back with open arms by Governor Bago and other senior government officials at a brief ceremony in Government House, Minna, thereby ending weeks of uncertainty and trauma over their fate.

In an interaction with some teachers, who were visibly elated, they praised God, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Rev Dr Bulus Yohanna, government authorities, and security agencies for their efforts towards their safe return.

According to one teacher, who requested not to be named, “All I can say now is that God has heard our prayers and I know everyone has been praying for us too.

“We kept saying one prayer, that God should help so that we can be reunited with our families and spend Christmas with them.”

Another teacher decried the kidnapping of the schoolchildren, particularly the younger pupils.

“Some of these children are too young to be abducted, but thank God we are back alive,” he stated.

The latest release brings the total number of rescued students to 230.

Recall that a total of 315 students, including 12 teachers, were abducted on Friday, November 21, 2025, according to Bishop Bulus Yohanna at the time.

He stated that of this number, 50 escaped and reunited with their families on Sunday, November 22, 2025, leaving a total of 265 in captivity.

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The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has demanded the immediate suspension of the implementation of what it described as disputed tax laws, accusing the executive arm of government of secretly altering bills after their passage by the National Assembly.

The party warned that the alleged action amounted to a grave constitutional breach that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations if not urgently addressed.

In a statement issued on Monday, December 22, by its National Chairman, Falalu Bello, the PRP accused the administration of engaging in what it called blatant executive misconduct and a flagrant disregard for constitutional sovereignty.

According to the party, revelations credited to a member of the House of Representatives suggested that “the executive arm has clandestinely altered bills after passage by the National Assembly without legislative approval.”

The PRP described the allegation as “a dangerous pattern of executive impunity that threatens the very foundations of Nigeria’s democracy and due process.”

The party said the alleged insertion, deletion and modification of substantive provisions in laws after parliamentary passage showed “a reckless disdain for the rule of law, separation of powers, and the constitutional order.”

It added, “This is an unforgivable breach of trust, a mockery of the Nigerian people, and an open assault on the integrity of our legislative process.”

The PRP called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the alleged alterations, insisting that anyone found culpable must face appropriate sanctions.

The party went further to warn that if evidence emerged linking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the alleged illegal alterations, it would demand his impeachment.

“No individual, including the President, should be above the law,” the statement said.

The opposition party also demanded the immediate suspension of the implementation of the disputed tax laws until all discrepancies, “particularly the conflicts between the laws passed by the National Assembly and those gazetted, are thoroughly examined, resolved, and rectified.”

It cautioned that proceeding with the enforcement of the laws in their current form could worsen public distrust and fuel constitutional disputes.

The PRP warned that it would not hesitate to seek judicial intervention should the matter fail to receive prompt and satisfactory attention from relevant authorities.

According to the party, ignoring the issue would “deepen the crisis of governance, erode accountability, and further diminish Nigeria’s credibility on the global stage.”

The party also urged civil society organisations, lawmakers and all patriotic Nigerians to resist what it described as an assault on the country’s constitutional order.

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A coalition of Northern youth groups has demanded the immediate release of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of selective justice and politically motivated persecution of Northern opposition figures under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The demand was made during a press conference where the group expressed concern over the treatment of Malami, his family members and other opposition leaders from Northern Nigeria.

Addressing journalists, the Chairman of the group, Mohammed Ibrahim, alleged that recent actions by the EFCC amounted to targeted witch-hunting rather than a genuine anti-corruption drive, insisting that the agency had become an instrument for silencing dissent and weakening opposition voices in the North.

“What is unfolding before Nigerians is not a fight against corruption, but deliberate persecution and intimidation of respected Northern opposition figures,” the group said.

The coalition accused President Tinubu of allegedly orchestrating a campaign against Malami and other Northern politicians, claiming the actions were aimed at intimidating critics and pushing the country toward a one-party system.

They condemned what they described as harassment of Malami’s family members, saying such treatment was unprecedented and unacceptable in a democratic society.

The group further alleged double standards in the anti-graft war, claiming that while Malami and other Northern opposition figures were being aggressively pursued, some political figures from the South facing corruption allegations were not subjected to similar treatment.

They cited the cases of former minister, Betta Edu, former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging that they continued to enjoy freedom despite allegations against them.

The coalition also challenged the EFCC to investigate all corruption allegations without regard to political affiliation or region, including those involving top government officials.

The youth groups claimed to be aware of alleged plans to arrest other prominent Northern opposition figures, including Nasir El-Rufai, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and former Adamawa State governor, Jibrilla Bindow, describing it as part of a broader strategy to weaken an emerging opposition coalition.

They also accused the federal government of policies they said were worsening poverty in the North, particularly the importation of food crops allegedly produced in large quantities in the region.

The coalition listed several demands, including the immediate release of Abubakar Malami, an end to what it called the harassment of his family members, and the release of all opposition figures currently detained by the EFCC.

They also called for an end to selective justice and demanded that the EFCC investigate and prosecute corruption cases fairly and transparently across all regions and political parties.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge a Court of Appeal ruling in a case that centres on the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The appeal stemmed from some decisions taken by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on 28 November, striking out Mr Akpabio’s brief of argument and going ahead to hear Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal regarding the case.

The case was so contentious at the Federal High Court from whether the case originated that it prompted appeals from the adversaries.

Although the Court of Appeal has yet to deliver the substantive judgement on the appeals, the Court of Appeal held that the number of pages of Mr Akpabio’s appellant brief exceeded the page limit prescribed by court rules. The court also rejected his request to file a revised brief within the allowed length.

The Court of Appeal’s hearing stemmed from the suspension of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan on 6 March.

Ms Akpoti-Uduaghan had challenged her suspension at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

But the Federal High Court, in a limp, controversial decision delivered on 4 July, declared her suspension for six months on 6 March by the Senate as excessive but stopped short of ordering the reversal of the illegality.

The controversial decision of the Federal High Court also fined Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan N5 million for her “satirical apology” post on her Facebook page on 27 April.

The judge ruled that the social media post was made in disobedience of a valid court order prohibiting parties to the suit from making comments to the press or on social media regarding the subject matter of the pending suit.

The court ordered Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an unreserved apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days of the judgement to “purge” herself of the contemptuous act against the court. The senator wasn’t sent to prison because her act was adjudged to be civil contempt and not criminal contempt.

True to the controversial nature of the Federal High Court’s judgement, the decision spurred appeals from Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and the senate president.

The Court of Appeal heard the appeals on 28 November and reserved judgement. The date of the judgement is to be communicated to the parties.

Senate President to Supreme Court

Mr Akpabio filed his appeal at the Supreme Court on 18 December. The respondents are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Neda Imasuem.

The senate president argued that by the time the appeal was heard, her suspension had expired. “She was reinstated to the Senate on 6 September and has been performing her duties with all the associated rights and privileges,” his filing read.

He challenged Ms Akpoti-Uduaghan’s filings, arguing that her brief did not comply with “formatting rules requiring a larger font size and wider line spacing” which allowed her to remain within the page limit without court approval.

He also questioned the competence of her notice of appeal, which he said required him to address the objection within his brief, making a longer submission unavoidable.

Mr Akpabio argued that the appellate court’s decision denied him a fair hearing under the Nigerian Constitution, contending that the court was wrong to insist on strict compliance with the page limit, given the complexity and volume of issues in the appeal.

He said he formally applied in early November for permission to exceed the page limit under provisions allowing extended briefs in complex cases, but the Court of Appeal declined and proceeded to hear the appeal.

Mr Akpabio contended that the appellate court prioritised speed over fairness, treated the parties unequally, and reached a decision without giving him a full opportunity to present his case.

Mr Akpabio has therefore asked the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s decisions of 28 November. He seeks to rely on his brief of argument, which exceeds the 35-page limit, or to file a complaint brief for proper consideration.

He argues that this step is necessary to safeguard his constitutional right to a fair hearing and ensure justice.

Background

The feud arose from Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension after a dispute between her and Mr Akpabio during a senate proceeding on 20 February over her seating position.

On 6 March, the Senate adopted a report by its Ethics Committee and suspended her for six months, citing misconduct and violation of Standing Orders.

The suspension barred her from her duties, sealed her office, and withheld her salaries and allowances. She could return earlier if she tendered a written apology.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Alleged Sexual Harassment: Akpabio sues Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation, demands N200 billion in damages

She rejected the suspension and challenged it in court, arguing it was punitive, unconstitutional, and linked to her earlier sexual harassment petition against Mr Akpabio, which he denied.

On 4 July, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled the suspension excessive and ordered her recall but fined her N5 million for contempt over a social media post and required a public apology.

The Senate did not reinstate her immediately, arguing that the court did not give any such order and that the matter is still in court.

When the six-month suspension ended on 4 September, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan notified the National Assembly of her intent to resume, but the management refused, citing the ongoing court process. The standoff lasted until 23 September, when senate officials unsealed her office, which had remained closed since March.

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